Scriptures:
1 Corinthians 14 v 3: "But he that prophesieth
speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort."
1 Samuel 28 v 3 - 20 - King Saul consults a witch and
receives a death sentence;
Ezekiel 13 v 6 - 9: "They have seen vanity and
lying divination, saying, The Lord saith: and the Lord hath not sent them: and
they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word."
King Saul was in a dilemma as the prophet Samuel was
dead, who had always given him the word of the Lord concerning war and the
outcome of battles; Saul had also banished from Israel those who used familiar
spirits, witches, wizards and fortune-tellers.
So when the Philistines began to gather for battle
against Israel he was very afraid. Saul prayed to the Lord for guidance but
received no answer. Saul had lost the favour of God over the way he treated
David and for disobedience to Him.
In desperation Saul asked his helpers to find him someone
who could use divination so he could enquire as to his response to the
Philistine threat. They found a Witch in a forest and Saul disguised himself
to visit her. She saw through his disguise and was terrified he would kill her.
He reassured her and demanded she channel the spirit of
Samuel the old dead prophet. Normally a familiar spirit of the one asked for
would be channelled. The true spirit is not able to comply. (All who practice
spiritualism listen up - your dead mother or child or uncle cannot be
channelled. Satan sends a spirit called a "familiar" who knows
everything about the dead person to fool and deceive
you.)
In this case, however, the real spirit of Samuel was sent
by God to confront Saul. The Witch was terrified of him. Samuel rebuked Saul
for the sin of witchcraft and told him that he and his sons would be dead by
the following day. They were. When Saul saw his sons die in battle he fell on
his own sword.
There are two kingdoms ruled by two different spirits.
The Kingdom of God which is built on truth and the kingdom of Satan which is
built on lies and deceit. God sends His prophets to bring a true and accurate
word from Him to those who need it. Satan uses all forms of divination, astrology,
omens, familiar spirits to deceive the foolish.
If you are submitted to Jesus you would be committing sin if you went to a witch or a
fortune teller. Just as Saul sinned and his immediate death and the death of
his sons ended his reign as king of Israel.
I saw a Christian friend a while ago whom I first met at
a prayer meeting 25 years ago. At that meeting I suddenly got a terrible
headache - its one of the ways God uses to show me if there is a need. I asked if anyone present had a bad headache and she said
she needed prayer for it. I laid hands on her and she was healed. She shouted
"its gone, it's gone" over and over.
She testified to the group that twenty years before she
had consulted a fortune teller and when she left her she had this vicious
headache. It had never left her for 20 years!! No medication relieved the
pain!! Jesus healed her completely and instantly. He alone has this power. If
the Son of God sets you free you are free indeed.
The lesson to learn is be aware that we live in a world
controlled by unseen spirits. Our Father
in Heaven is invisible to us; He sent Jesus His Son to be His manifest presence
on Earth. Jesus is the Creator of all. He is generally not visible now but
lives in the hearts of believers to change the corruption of sin into the
beauty of righteousness.
Satan controls the unbelievers through hordes of unseen
demons that most (Western) people pooh pooh the existence of. This suits God's
enemy well as he can do terrible things and have people call them Acts of God.
These demons are in control of nations, cities, towns, people, weather,
earthquakes, plagues, famine, war, persecution, murder, rape, theft,
corruption, diseases, blackmail, nightmares, witchcraft, divination etc.
As Christians our job is to pray as spiritual warriors to
use the gifts of the Holy Spirit and our spiritual weapons eg the Sword of
God's Word to do battle against evil demons and overcome them. There is power
in Jesus' name, and in the Blood of Jesus to defeat Satan and his demons.
Most fortune tellers or diviners talk about impending
doom and death. If you put your faith in their words the predictions will
happen. Then the diviners get the credit for predicting correctly.
I knew a man who had prayed for 5 years for a lady in his
church to be saved. He excitedly told me one night that she had got gloriously
saved that evening. The next morning he was very depressed as she had died
overnight. I discerned a false prophecy and a spirit of death. I enquired of
this man and he said that a "prophet" had come to his church from
America a few months back and had prophesied over this woman that within 3
months one of her family members would be dead. It was she herself who died
believing this "prophet" spoke the truth.
Prophecies that come from God are sent to confirm what
God has already told you. They should not be a new direction you know nothing
about. I boarded a plane and God clearly spoke and said there is a woman on
this plane who has received a false prophecy about marriage. Moments later I
was sitting next to a Russian woman who was doing a missionary course in South
Africa. One of her instructors had prophesied over her that she was meant to
stay in SA and marry him! She was very confused as she had a calling to
Cambodia.
I told her what God had shown me and we prayed together
to release her from his words and the confusion they had brought her.
So do not be in a hurry to run after so-called prophets
and perhaps get hurt by false words. If God wants you to know something He will
find a way of confirming it. Don't act on any word until He does confirm it.
Another Christian called me for help. Before she said
anything I received from the Lord that she had suffered huge financial loss
through divination. She said that it was through a man who was a water
diviner who said their was an underground stream on her property. After 8 wells
had been dug and a great deal of money wasted not a drop of water was
found.
If God is not talking to you find out why before you go
looking in the wrong kingdom for wrong directions and guidance. Develop your
relationship with Jesus to keep you on the right track.
Prayer: Heavenly Father our enemy prowls around seeking
those he can devour with lies. We put all our trust in Your true Word to keep
him away. Let those who have strayed repent and blot out every evil word with
the Blood of Jesus. Be cleansed and free in Jesus' name. Amen.